Summary of Chatter

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. We all have a voice in our head. Sometimes it acts like an inner coach, urging us forward with encouragement—Focus, you’ve got this. But just as often, it transforms into a harsh critic, whispering doubts—I’m going to fail. Everyone will laugh. What’s the point? In Chatter, acclaimed psychologist Ethan Kross examines these silent conversations we hold with ourselves and reveals how profoundly they shape our lives, work, health, and relationships. Drawing on groundbreaking research from his own lab, as well as real-world examples—from athletes under pressure to students leading double lives—Kross shows how negative self-talk, or “chatter,” can cloud our thinking, drain our confidence, and derail our goals. The good news is that we already possess the tools to change this internal dialogue. Hidden in everyday practices—our choice of words, the technologies we use, the journals we keep, the conversations we share, and the cultural spaces we create—are strategies for transforming inner criticism into clarity, resilience, and focus. Brilliantly researched and filled with compelling stories, Chatter teaches us how to take control of the most important conversation we have each day: the one with ourselves.